Electrical switch



Dea 20 1938- W. O. SCHULTZ ET AL Zf@ ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed March 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTRNEY.

Dec. 20, 1938.

W. O. SCHULTZ ET AL ELECTRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March ll, 1935 Patented Dec. 20, 12938 ELECTRICAL SWITCH William O. Schultz, South Milwaukee, and Alwin G. Steinmayer, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Line vMaterial Company, South Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application March 11, 193,5, Serial No. 10,2462

'7 claims. (ci. zoo- 169) This invention relates to an electrical switch and is in general an improvement over that disclosed in the patent to Steinmayer `1,656,399 of January 17, 1928. Y Various attempts have been made to provide an electric switch which has a quick break and which is suitable for not only medium voltages but also high voltages and high current capacities and, as disclosed in the above noted patent, attempts have been made to utilize knife blade switches for this purpose, such switches being so constructed that the knife blade enters and leaves clips. It has been found, however, that when the clip and blade construction is vin service for some time, the surfaces become badly oxidized and as a result it is, diiilcult to either open or close the switches. It .frequentlyresults that when the necessary force is applied to the switch either directly or through leverage mechanism,

has been often the case that the insulator supporting the hinge is vfrequently broken.

This invention is designed to overcome fects noted hereinabove and has for its objects to provide a novel form of quick break switch in which there is no chance of breaking any vof the parts, in which the harmful effects lofoxidation are substantially avoided, in whichbrush `type Y contacts are employed, and in, which although lthe brush type contacts are employed, neverthe- 30 less a quick break is secured. v 1

45 quick break switch in whichbrush contacts are so that the arc occurs at one or the other or both of these arcng fingers and vat a point remote 50 from that normally engaged by the brush contacts, so that the brush contacts have a substantially clean surface to bear against when the switch is in closed position, such brush contacts also having a wipingl orvscraping contact with the 55 main switch blade to thus assist in maintaining a. clean, bright surface for contacting with the brush contacts. u u

As disclosed in the above Lnoted patent, it has been heretofore the practice to provide, in cero tain constructions, an auxiliary blade ln addibreaking of one or other of the parts results. jItj thel deinstalled out o! doors, actsrin the capacity of a,

vide a Vquick break main switch blade from the'iatching mechanism Further objects are to provide a novel form of l' tion to the main blade and so relate these parts that afterthe main blade is withdrawn, the auxiliary blade is suddenly released and is thrown to open position by spring means.

Thisinventionfhowever, has for its additional object the provision of a switch having a single main switch vblade which performs this double function, namely, acting in the capacity of the entire loadV carrying member and also in the capacity of the quick break member. i

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

`Figure l is a side elevation with parts in section of one form of the invention,showing the switch inclosedpositionv Figure 2 is a yface view of the structure shown in Figure 1. v

AFigure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1,

showing a modified form of the invention.

. `Figure 4` is a linesection on the line 4--4 of Figure s.

rriesthe arcing finger 8 provided with the usual arcing tip. The terminal member 9 is adapted to receive the line terminal I0, asshown clearly in i Figures l and 2.

The upper insulator! carries the upper brush contact IIand the arcing finger I2. It also carries the terminal vI3 which receives the line terminal I4. l

Additionally," this upper insulator carries a latching memberl which may consist of a sleet hood I5 provided with a latchlng finger vI6 located interiorly thereof and provided with a pair of tongues or projecting members I1 which engage a shouldered portion `I8 of kthe hood I6 when the l latching member I6 is in its locking position. employed and are equipped with arcing fingers It is urgedtowards and normally maintained in which is loosely coiled about the pivot pin of the lever I6 andwhich bears against the lever, as shown in Figure 1. This upper member I5 is also provided with a tongue or stop 20? which limits the inward motion of the main switch blade 2|. ,I

Thisv main switch blade 2I is notl directly pivotally f mounted upon the hinge member. Instead, it isv pivoted on the pin 22 which is carried by theinwardly projecting ears 23 oi an auxiliary blade or operating member 24. The ears 23 are themselves pivoted to the hinge member I by means of the pin 2l. A spring 24 is loosely coiled about the pin 26 and bears against the inner side oi' the main switch blade 2| and against an extension 24' of the blade or manipulating member 24. It is to be noted that the pivot pin 22 is mounted outwardly from the pivot pin 2l for a Purpose which will immediately appear.

In operating the device, assuming the switch is closed, a switch stick or other member is hooked into the eyelet 21 forming a part `of the manipulating or operating member 24 and such member or blade 24 is pulled outwardly. This outward rocking motion of theblade 24 is about the pin 2l and additionally compresses or tensions the spring 26.

It will be noted also that the pin 22 now travels inl the arc of a circle about the pin 26 and thus slides the blade 2l downwardly, as viewed in Figure l. When the blade 2| slides clear of the latch I4, it will suddenly snap open,'thus breaking the electric circuit in a quick and positive manner.

It is to benoted also that the arcing fingers 3 and I2 receive all of the arcing and thus protect the brush contacts, and it will be noted also that this arcing occurs at points spaced from the surfaces normally engaged by the brush contacts 1 and If for any reason the spring 24 should break or some other defect of this order should occur,

ymeans are provided for positively rocking the main blade 2| -to open position. This means may consist'of a transverse pin 23 carried by the ears 23 and adapted to engage the under side oi the blade 2| a material time after the blade' has cleared the latch i6. Normally, however, this pin does not function at all as the blade is snapped quickly to open position throughvthe medium of the spring 26. i

It will be seen further when the switch is closed. the member 24 is rocked towards closed position, the main switch blade and the member 24 acting as a unit and rocking as a unit about the pin 25. 'I'he upper end of the blade 2| rocks the latch Il upwardly and finally passes this latch after which the latch drops downwardly into locking position under the iniluence of the spring il.' 'I'he stop 2l will limit inward motionv of the. switch blade 2|.

It is to be noted particularly that the member I acts as a sleet hood and protects the upper contact. as well as the latch member. from sleet, snow and other detrimental agents. Additionally, there is-somewhat of a protection for the lower brush contact due to the fact` that thesleet hood is also directly above such contact.

'I'he invention may take other forms, for example if desired the operating member may be channel-shaped and may overlap opposite edges of the main blade. This construction is shown in Figure 3 and is equally applicable to the construction shown in Figure 1, as is obvious.

In this case, the blade or operating member 23, which is channel-shaped and may be cut out centrally, if so desired, as indicated in Figure 4, is provided with ilanges 30 which are located on opposite sides of the main blade 3|. 'I'he main blade 3| is pivoted upon the pin 32 carried by the ears 33 of the blade or operating member 2l, such ears being pivotally mounted upon a pin 34 carried by the ears 35 of the hinge member 36.

If desired, a small guide provided with inwardly turned ears 31 may be secured to the inner side ofthe main blade 3| for the reception of the spring arm 33.V The spring 3l has a portion wrapped around the pin 34 and has a downwardly f extending portion engaging an extension of the operating member 29, as shown in Figure 3.

The lower brush contact is indicatedat 33 and the upper brush contact at 40. They are respectively provided with the arcing fingers 4| and 42.

The latching member 43 may consist of a single channelllke member acting not only in the capaclty of a latch, but also as a sleet hood. It is pivotally mounted upon the pin 44 carried by the upper terminal member 45 and is provided'with side ears or anges 46. The outer upper portion of the member 43 is upwardly curved to provide a camlike surface or part, indicated by the reference character 43'. I'his latching member is providedwith an aperture 41 into which the upper end of the main switch blade 3| passes when the latching member'is in locked position. The rear wall of the aperture 41 constitutes a stop for the switch blade, though obviously the member 42 hereinafter described may also or independently act as a stop for hunting the inward motion of the switch blade. 'I'he downward motion of the latching member is limited by means of an adjustable screw 43 passing through the latching memberA and engaging a relatively rigid plate 48 supported from the upper terminal member 45.

'I'he action of this form 'oi' the invention is identically similar to that previously described. When the manipulating member or plate 29 is rocked outwardly, for example when its -eyelet 50 is engaged by a` switch stick and pulled outwardly, theswitch blade 3| slides clear of the latching member 43 and snaps to open position.

When the switch is closed, the main switch blade 3| and thevmember 29 rock as a unit about the pin 34 and the upper end of the switch blade 3| rocks the latching member 43 upwardly, the latching member finally dropping downwardly to closed position and being assisted in such motion by means of the small spring 5|.

It is obvious that det-axis of either form ofthe invention may be interchangeably used, if desired. For'example, the channel-shaped operating blade or member 29 oi Figure 3 could be used with the construction shown in Figures l and 2. Also if desired, the type of operating member 24 with its central rib 52 could be used in place oi the operating'member 28 in Figure 3.

In each case, it is preferable to make the hood, for example the member i5 of Figures 1 and 2 or the hood forming the latching member 43 of Figure 3, in such a way that it acts somewhat as a guide to guide the upper end of the switch blade into position while it is being rocked closed. This is readily accomplished by ilaring the outer ends or wings of such members, as indicated at I5' in Figure 2.`

It will be seen that a novel form of quick break switch has been provided which may be used in the ordinary capacity of a disconnecting switch for high voltage Aancl large current supply, or may be used in other capacities, and that brush contacts are provided` and preferably equipped with arcing -fingers, although the switch blade itself has a quick opening motion automatically imparted thereto. v v

It will be seen further that the switch blade performs the dual functionof acting not only as the main blade (in this form of the invention the only blade) for. carrying the load, but also acting in the capacity of the quick break member itself.

It will be seen further that oxidation of the contacts is reduced to a minimum, and that, therefore, easy and smooth action of the apparatus is assured.

sneden Itwillbeseenthstinbothtormsottheinvention the latching mechanism forms in effect asupport. hinged operating means carried byV said support, a switch blade can'ied by said hinged operating means and adapted to engage said' stationary contact, said hinged operating means being movable away from said blade during opening movement, latching mechanism for positively holding said switch blade in engagement with saidstationary contact, said operating means including a spring normally holding said operating means and blade in contact, said spring being tensioned on opening motion of said operating means and urging said switch blade towards open position when said operating means is rocked outwardly, said operating means sliding said blade free of said latching mechanisms said operating means is moved outwardly, said latchlng mechanism forming a sleet hood for said switch blade.

2. A'quick break electric switch comprising a support, a pair ot slanting brush contacts carried by said support, said brush contacts slanting in the same direction, a switch blade for engaging and bearing against the ends of said brush contacts, an operating member pivoted to said support and pivotally carryingsaid. switch blade,

'yielding means for urging said blade towards open position when said operating member is moved towards switch open position, and-latching means for latching said switch blade in closed position, said operating member imparting a longitudinal and rocking motion to said switch blade, the longitudinal motion. of said switch blade occurring only during opening movement and being in the direction of slant of said brush contacts, whereby said switch blade is detached from said latching means and thereafter is rocked free of said bmah contacts with a quick motion.

3. A quick break electric switchk comprising a support, a pair of brush contacts carried by said support, a switch' blade for engaging said brush contacts, an operating member pivoted to said `support and pivotally carrying said switch blade,

4. An electric switch comprising a support, a

brush contact carried by said support and an arcing flnger associated with said brush contact, a switch blade for engaging said brush contact and said arcing i'tnger, latch mechanism for normally holding said switch blade in closed position, operatingmeanspivotallycarriedbysaidsupport and pivoted to said switch blade, and a spring between said operating means and said switch blade. said spring urging said switch blade towards said operating means and normally holding said switch blade in contact with said operating means, said operating means when rocked sliding said switch Vblade free of said support, whereby said switch blade moves quickly outwardly away from said brush contact and said arcing ilnger.

5. An electric switch comprising a support,a brush contactcarried by said support and an arcing finger associated with said brush contact, a

switch blade ior engaging said brush` contact and said arcing ilnger, latch' mechanism for normally holding said switch blade in closed position,y operating means pivotally carried by said support and pivoted to said switch blade, and a spring between said operating means and said switch blade, said spring yurging said switch blade towards said operating means and normally holding said switch blade in contact Vwith said operating means, said operating means when rocked sliding said switch blade iree of said support,wwhere by said switch blade moves quickly outwardly away from said brush contact and said arcing linger, said operating means engaging the outer face oi said switch' blade when saidoperating means is rocked towards closed position, whereby said operating-means will positively torce said switch blade to closed position when said operating means is rocked inwardly.

An electric switch comprising a pivot support, a terminal spaced from said support. a switch operating member having a main arm with a laterally projecting portion pivoted to said pivot support,.a switch blade normally paralleling said member and pivotally connected thereto adJa` cent said pivot support at a point spaced outwardi ly from said pivotsupport,V a,v spring normally holding said blade in .contact with said member, latching means engaging the free end of said blade, said blade being moved longitudinally from said llatching means when said operating member is rocked upon said pivot support to free said blade from said latching means, and a resilient contactengaging lsaid blade when said blade'is y in closed position.

7. A manually operable, quick break electric switch comprising an insulating pivot support, an outer terminal spaced from said pivot support and an intermediate terminal positioned between said outer terminal and said pivot support, said outer terminal having a latch, a switch operating member having a tree end and pivoted at the other end on said pivot support, and a switch blade piv- Aotallyy mounted at one end on said operatingl member and normally held by said latch when said switch is closed, said switch blade ,spanning and connecting said terminal members `when said switch is closed. said operating member normally abutting said switch blade adjacent the tree end of said operating member, said operating member when moved to switch open position releasing said switch blade from said latch, said switch f open position.

WILLIAM O. SCHUL'IZ. ALWIN G. S'I'EINMAYER. 

